The Manor VS The Derecho

http://kingstowne.patch.com/articles/two-killed-friday-in-northern-virginia-as-severe-thunderstorm-hits
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-thunderstorms-knock-out-power-across-region-leaving-2-dead/2012/06/30/gJQAB9MbDW_story.html?hpid=z1

We are safe here at the Manor; in fact, our immediate neighborhood appears to be something of an island of calm amidst a lot of damage.  The wind and lightning were quite fierce last night.  And I'd say that the gusts were in the 70mph range, (the highest that I've ever experienced directly).  As you can see from the fist link, we are now using the term 'derecho' to describe what occurred, (a word that I've never heard of before today). 
There are now at least four deaths attributed to the storm and over a million folks without power, and our phone system is completely screwed up, (I'd guesstimate that it's only operating at about 20% of capacity). 
At any rate, for those of you in the outlands, that's the current situation here.  The main problem is that there's a possibility of more of the same early this evening.  We'll see what happens...